On the Sidelines. . . With Camera

"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.
~ I Corinthians 10:23

The word “constructive” here is the Greek word “oikedomeo.” It literally means a “house-builder.”

Ever watch a four-year-old “build a house?”

Shepard built one today in a pile of leaves. Really. The boy used some cars from the sandbox -- a weather-beaten Snickers® wrapper -- and a piece of broken plastic from a lawn chair. He really wasn’t building as much as he was playing. But. . . he’s FOUR-Years-Old!

Play is permissible when you’re four.

Play is “permissible” when you’re forty-four too . . . which brings me back to I Corinthians 10:23: It is a verse that is almost impossible to take out of context.

See what verse 24 says. . .

“Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

And verse 33 is such an excellent conclusion to the matter:

“. . . even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

Here’s something I’ve noticed in churches: Church is an excellent place to observe a vast range of both chronological ages and spiritual maturity – you’ve got children and youth (and some adults) who are content to just have fun and partake in the social interaction that church offers. But you also have those spiritually mature Christians who are contributing to the edification and building-up of the church body.

Those who just come for the social stuff aren’t necessarily detracting, but they definitely aren’t contributing to the Kingdom. The social fun is certainly “permissible,” but it’s not necessarily beneficial or constructive to the ultimate goal of seeing people “saved” (I Corinthians 10:33).

Now. . .don't get me wrong. Fellowship and evangelism are absolutely necessary in the Body of Christ. Of course we need social interaction and fun in the Body of Christ -- and if done in the right spirit, serves the ultimate goal of seeing people saved!

But Paul is speaking to Christians in I Corinthians. The Christian's ultimate goal is to build-up the Body of Christ -- and bring people to Salvation. And, oh! how this is needed in the church today. If you believe for a second that churches are made up entirely of believers -- think again!

We need the social interaction and fun and I love that Scripture makes clear that fun is permissible! It is the spiritually mature and creative church that can use the permissible to reach the ultimate goal of seeing people saved. I want to be part of a church like that!

I don’t think Paul is telling anyone that they cannot have fun. His words are presented so we can ask ourselves if our actions are truly building up the Body of Christ, or if we are just standing on the sidelines watching others do the work while we take in the fun.

. . . Today I stood on the sidelines (with a camera) and watched my husband rake leaves. I watched Shepard build a house out of garbage and enjoy himself in a way that only a carefree four-year-old can. I hate to think of life without the "permissible."

- Esthermay Bentley-Goossen